PART TWO, DOS, DEUX, ZWEI… whatever you want to call it today we are exploring more things to consider when choosing your attire for your engagement session. We, as wedding photographers, of course want you to look fabulous so that your images are stunning! There are things that you CAN do that make our job a lot easier!

To review yesterday our first three “rules” are:
1) Stay Seasonally appropriate.
2) Dress in Layers.
3) Throw Matching out the door! Complimentary is all the rage.

Today we have a few more!!

4) Consider your body type. Just because that chunky sweater, sleeveless dress or short skirt are cute on a size 0 mannequin … it doesn’t mean that they will look good on YOU. Also, just because an outfit is “cute” on you…doesn’t necessarily mean that it will photograph well! If you are paranoid of your upper arms… try a shawl, scarf, jacket or sweater. If you feel that you have thick legs… wear a longer skirt or pants. Now… every single bride I have ever had I consider to be beautiful. I am pretty sure that their husbands feel the same but let’s face it. We are women! There is always something to “work on” on our bodies!  Not every body is built for every outfit.  So too, are outfits, relational to portraits.  Not every outfit was made for every portrait!  Some prints and cuts just do not photograph as well as others.  Try to stay AWAY from loud prints, florals, colors that hurt the eye, LARGE stripes and plaids… these are all things that WILL date your images quickly.  For a style that is timeless, think J.Crew.  Most of what you will find in their catalog is monochromatic, sold or tiny print… they do this for a reason : longevity!  You know as well as I do that the classic pair of black pumps will stay on your shoe shelf a LOT longer than those laser yellow ones that you go clubbing in!  I am not saying be “boring” in your photos but when shopping, keep in mind, these are photos you will show to your children and THEIR children in years to come!

Reference this article for more information on body shapes and how to dress them: thechicfashionista

A few of my suggestions for various body types:

Rounded or Pear Shaped

When examining this look we see the PERFECT engagement photo look for a woman who loves to look “pretty” but does not care for the confines of a dress.  This look, of course, is close to my heart!  LOL  The long black pant provides an elongating effect to the body while slimming a lower half that you may not be proudest of.  The top is a fabulous “feature” piece to draw the eye upward and capture your audience with a fun, flirty look.  I also love that we stay with some pretty safe colors.  This is an outfit that you will likely look back on for many years to come and still be in love with!  For more information on this look visit: profashionelle.com

OR… if you embrace the dress here is another fabulous option:

Accessorized perfectly with the hot metallics of the season, this plum beauty accentuates the natural waist, has enough movement to hide a few flaws and would surely be a showstopper at your engagement session!  For more information on this outfit visit: INSTYLE

Hourglass shaped:

HOURGLASS IMAGES COURTESY: POLYVORE.COM

You can seldom go wrong with a dark denim wide leg trouser, some awesome accent jewelry pieces and a longer belted shirt to show off the hourglass figured woman’s impeccable waistline!  However my FAVORITE part of this outfit might well be the lime green shoes!  Perfect for an engagement shoot as they are flats but stylish enough to say… “Hey world!  Look at me!  I am getting MARRIED!” 

Yet another hourglass look.  A fun flirty colored top with puffy capped sleeve combined with a more neutral printed skirt SCREAMS style.  You can layer on a sweater later in the evening for a different look and be assured that your engagement photos will look stunning with your man by your side in his matching CAMEL jacket and dark jeans! Information on this look from:

A general way to wear a dress for all body shapes:

For more information visit wardrobe911.com

5) Be COMFORTABLE, casual but not frumpy! Yes… I encourage our couples to WEAR your jeans!  If you spend 99% of your life in them, then you should spend your engagement pics in them also.  If you FEEL like a duck out of water in high heels and a dress then you will LOOK like one in your photos.  Do what feels right you   If that is jeans… then so be it!  I have seen MANY a fabulous engagement photo with jean clad couples.  The best thing about jeans is that they are VERSATILE!  You can change your look many times and still keep the same pair of jeans on.  This makes for quick and easy changes in the car when we are on location.  Add a tank top underneath your shirt / sweater and you have an easy wardrobe that feels great and looks great too!  Do try to stay away from LARGE cable knits… unless you are 90 lbs soaking wet they cling to the body and creating unappealing lines.

and for him:

Visit denimology.com for more details!!

6) Accessorize you AND your honey. So, I have to admit, I have some of the most fabulously stylish brides in the world.  I have even seen a bride to be whip out her jewelry “closet” when she came to her engagement session and I was truly over the moon about that!  Accessories can go a long way to creating interest in your images without making them entire “dated”.  A funky pair of shoes, an awesome necklace, chunky bracelets… all of these things are great ideas for personalizing your wardrobe.  Let us NOT forget the man in your life.  It is ENTIRELY possible for men to accessorize also!  A cool pair of cufflinks, an awesome tie bar, scarf or hat even… think Neal Caffrey!

For you: Frugal Fashion Accessory Finds from Target

For him:

More details at: Men’s Fashion Deals

So you have your engagement session scheduled, your wedding photography package is booked and things are swimming along with your wedding photographer (who is presumably me if you are reading this blog… and if I am not… then I should be!  LOL).  The first question out of EVERY bride’s mouth after we put the date on the books is “What should we wear to the engagement photo session?”

It’s an important part of your wedding experience as these outfits and these photos will begin to define your new life together.  Often, the engagement photos are the first OFFICIAL pictures of the two of you together and you will see them often over the course of your wedding planning journey.  They are likely to pop up on Save the Date cards, Invitations, displays at your wedding, photo guest book and a plethora of other crafty ventures you may choose to create that personalized feel to your wedding day.  At any rate, you want the engagement pics to look like something straight out of a fairytale.  Be that fairytale romantic and sweet or eclectic and spicy, it makes no difference.  There ARE general rules for dressing to make YOURSELF and your engagement pictures look fabulous.

This post will begin a 5 part series on dressing your BEST for your engagement photo session!!!  YAY!

As we move through the “rules” to dressing for your engagement session, you will find a suggestion and then an example of a piece that could work inside the rules.  We in no way endorse these companies, their practices or bylaws but we do like their style.    Do not feel the need to buy all new clothing for your engagement session… many of my favorite engagement session attires have come from digging through a closet with one of our brides!  Use these tips to apply them to your own style.  Don’t feel pressured into being anyone except YOU!

1) Stay Seasonally appropriate. If you are having a fall engagement, don’t break out the sun dress.( at least not without some cute boots, a sweater and a scarf )  We see tons of fall engagements as it is appropriate to send “Save the Date” notes 6 months prior to the wedding and the majority of our weddings occur in the summer months.  Take advantage of the cooler weather.  So you have been eyeballing that fabulous olive green Peacoat but you think to yourself… “A black coat is so much more practical…”  Throw practicality out the window and go for the gusto!  This is the one time in your life when you can wear that magenta ruffled short coat and really make an impact!

A few of our favorites:

2) Dress in Layers. Because we start many of our sessions in the late afternoon or early evening the temperatures can cool quickly.  Having a cute cap sleeved shirt might be a great plan until it drops 10 degrees and then you end up with chill bumps all over.  Think of cardigans, sweaters, light jackets, scarves and other accessories to warm you and your honey    Also, because we shoot on location there may not always be the “perfect” place to change clothing.  When we are out in the middle of a field we often have … our minivan and your car so those are your choices for dressing room!  If you think in terms of a single pair of pants that can be swapped out with multiple looks on top, it makes for much easier costume changes!

First we start with the basics:  A pair of dark skinny jeans and a fabulous pair of camel knee boots:

Dark Skinny Jeans from GAP $69.50

Camel Boot from Old Navy $49.50

A few of our favorites:

Button front yellow rosette sweater by Old Navy $26.50

Olive Green Toggle Sweater by Old Navy- $34.50

Gap Navy Cropped Trench- $44.99

Which will of course need to be popped with a bright tank / print underneath because you are still in your fabulous skinny jeans and camel boots   See how easily the look changed?

Ann Taylor Melon Cotton Sateen Ruffle Shirt- $68

3) Throw Matching out the door!  Complimentary is all the rage. Yes so there is a place in every engagement session for the matching white collared shirts and khakis… if that’s your “thing”.  Otherwise, think of complimentary matching outfits that are not exact copies.  You are a woman, he is a man… you should NOT have to wear the same thing!  Lets face it… he might be handsome enough to marry but you are still pretty nice arm candy for him!  Own it

Complete look can be found at Express for Men:

Or you can choose a more classic shirt and tie look.  But if you are going classic… have FUN with it.  There are tons of ties out there to make your “stiff” shirt look fun and funky!  Locally we have found that the best selection of ties can be found at either Stein Mart or Macy’s.  Online our favorite is the Tie Bar.

All ties from Tiebar.com

And then of COURSE your guy needs a jacket.  Nothing is better than a structured (or deconstructed) jacket with some grungy jeans and a spiffy tailored shirt.  Stay away from black for your session.  It is a very harsh color and the point is not to contrast your fiance but to compliment her.  Colors like heather gray, chocolate brown, navy… these are all great compliments to a woman’s fall color palette.

A few jackets we love:

American Rag Jacket from Macy’s $59.50

or this for a more polished look:

Gap Long Classic Coat- $88.00

At any rate, choosing stylish options for your engagement session is not tough.  It doesn’t have to be expensive or stressful either.  We offer clothing consultations COMPLIMENTARY and encourage, at the very least, that our couples bring 7-10 outfits with them to their session.  We can work with accessories from there to create your perfect engagement photo look!

Bailey and Tim chose a custom designed engagement photo guestbook for their guests to sign on their way into their ceremony.  An increasing number of brides are straying from the traditional “name and address here” lined guestbooks.  They have traded in satin covers and feather plume pens for hip custom designs and colored sharpie markers.  It is a trend, that I have to say, I HIGHLY endorse!  What better way to keep all of your engagement memories together AND share them with your weddings guests?

Our custom designed engagement photo guest books start at $250 and can be designed / printed in under 2 weeks!

OR… as an SS&G bride you can ALWAYS purchase your engagement DVD and create a DIY book from Mpix.com if you are feeling crafty!

Either way it is a fabulous way to keep your memories together!

Kristen and Alan were married August 7th at the same church in which Alan was ordained.  This very chic couple met while working at Barnes and Noble thus the B&N pics at the end of the session.  Although it was brutally hot outside we braved the sweat and managed to create some fabulous images!

What could be better than a wedding day?  TWO wedding days!  That is precisely how many wedding days I have spent with Kristine.  Not of her own of course, but Kris was a bridesmaid in Josh and Liz’s wedding and in return Liz, my former bride, was a bridesmaid in Kris’ wedding.  I always think it is REALLY cool to have the privilege of photographing family and friends’ weddings.  That lets me know that we are doing something right!

At any rate… this is about Kris.  And her bridal session.  On a blistering hot day in Cincinnati we ventured out to create some fabulous bridal images and THAT we did!  Kris’ family is from Cincy thus the importance of having her bridal photos there   Their wedding was in Dayton, Ohio and those pics are soon to follow!

I was perusing Etsy the other day and stumbled across this….

Did you know that each of those bridesmaids are wearing the EXACT SAME DRESS????  HOLY crap!  I thought to myself… now THAT is a bridesmaids dress that you really CAN wear again!  I was even more shocked when i saw this:

There are only about 100 different ways to wear this dress… SERIOUSLY.. brides out there… hop on over to Etsy and pick these up for your maids.  They will thank you when they see the price is extremely reasonable and the dress is friggin fabulous!  I mean, really, I want one for myself!

Erin Leigh Heart on Etsy… today you rocked my world!

Yup, that’s right!  I said it!!!  Troy and I are looking to expand our destination wedding photography portfolio.  So we are looking for 5(FIVE) wedding couples, each in different destinations, who would like to apply for FREE wedding photography by Schmidt Studio!  Seriously?  Is it a joke?!  Not at all!  Having a beach wedding in the Islands, or a winter wedding in Vail, or maybe a Central Park Wedding in New York, or a Castle Wedding in Europe…. whatever destination… we have current passports and are ready to fly the friendly skies and join you!!!

So, how does it work?

You cover the costs meaning: airfare, transportation and accommodations for 3 -5 nights at YOUR destination wedding and you will in turn receive:

• FREE engagement session at destination or at any destination within 4 hours of Lexington, KY (Louisville, Cincinnati, various locations in Eastern Kentucky, Southern Indiana, Tennessee and Illinois even!!) with DVD and print rights to ALL photos from engagement shoot.
• FREE unlimited hours of photography on your wedding day at your destination.
• FREE DVD of ALL fully edited images from your wedding day and prints rights.
• FREE Online gallery with viewing for family and friends for Engagement AND Wedding
• AND a $500 credit toward your wedding book!
• Retail value: $3850!!!!

-  You must be willing to allow us to share your wedding images with the world! (LITERALLY) and agree that we may use them in both print and web ads.

-  Your destination MUST ALLOW outside photographers and you must cover any fees related to this.

- Airfare / Accommodations must be secured and receipts / tickets turned over at the time we sign the contract (seeing as how are not being “paid” in order for us to hold your date we will need some kind of guarantee)  OR you may pay the normal $1000 retainer and secure these items within 30 days of your contract.  As soon as you present us with confirmation of airfare and accommodations, your $1000 retainer will be returned to you in full.

- If the destination is within 6 hours of Lexington, KY we will be happy to drive and save the cost of airfare but reimbursement of ground travel will be expected.

We do have a legal contract that each party will sign that commits us to you so no fear that we are some shady people who just won’t show!

Feel free to contact us directly for more details:  studio@kentuckystudio.com or 859.312.5361

View the VIRTUAL Issue of TOPS in Lex- WOW Weddings here

We are so proud to announce that TWO Schmidt Studio & Gallery Couples were recently featured in the WOW Weddings issue as some of Kentucky’s TOP 2009 Weddings!!!!  We are very proud to be featured alongside some of Kentucky’s TOP wedding photographers!

Congratulations to Trish & Shawn, and Kimberlee & Denver!  You truly had amazing weddings that we were PROUD to be a part of!

Also, shout outs go to Alex and Mark, Ashley and Keith, Ellen & Ty, and Britney & Eric.   Each of these couples had various parts of their weddings highlighted in the “Inspirations” pages throughout the magazine!

I do have to say what a privilege it is to be here, in this place in our life, running this studio, and getting to WORK every single day, doing something we love.  This is not a JOB for us.  It is a truly expressive and beautiful way to live.  Spending the MOST special day of a couple’s life with them, as their sidekicks… it is always an honor!  Maybe that is why our wedding couples are so special to us and why we like to keep them around long after the wedding is over…. who knows.  We are blessed to be acknowledged for our work and to be listed among “the best”.  We are SO excited to see what new opportunities this will bring to SS&G and to our couples!

You can pick up your copy on stands at various Bridal vendors in Lexington NOW!!!  Or visit the digital issue through the link above… YAY!

We hear it time and again… “we just CAN’T afford you but your work is a cut above the rest!”

We know that today’s brides are often on a shoestring budget so we are ready to change with the times!  Gone are the days when 1/2 your budget was spent on wedding photography!  Your wedding day is about YOU, your fiance, your family, friends and FUN!!!  SOOOO… to make the worries fewer and your wallet heavier we are introducing NEW flexible packages tailor made to suit your needs!!!!  Don’t need 14 hours of photography?  No problem!  Don’t want a wedding book?  No worries!  We don’t think you should compromise QUALITY just because you have a tight budget!

Schmidt Studio is now offering packages starting at $1750 and coverage starting at $1450!!!!

As always every couple will receive a FREE Engagement Session, FREE Bridal Session, FREE personal online webpage / galleries for each session, FREE on site consulting prior to the wedding and of course… Troy and Amber BOTH as your fabulous photographers!!!  Does it get any better?  WELL YEAH!

Because we are also now offering INTEREST FREE Payment Plans!  They are pretty simple to figure out:

$$ Package / # of month until your wedding +3 month= monthly payment

(YES! You can continue paying on your wedding AFTER the wedding, AFTER the honeymoon, AFTER the thank you notes are written and AFTER the wedding gifts are exchanged!)

Sample:

$1750 Package / 9 month til the wedding=

$1750/ 12 months = $145.83 / month!!!

(less than a car payment and lasts a whole lot longer!)

If you would like more details…. email or call Amber & Troy @ 859.312.5361 or studio@kentuckystudio.com

Jason and Mandie were married at Estes Chapel on the campus of Asbury College in Wilmore. Kentucky.  The cool crisp day was decorated with a bright blue sky and passing clouds.  Even though the breeze was chilly the day was beautiful and all of the bridesmaids were in good spirits for our outdoor photos   The day was full of tears and smiles … just as every good wedding day is and was followed by great food and fun shared by family and friend at their reception which followed at the Lexington Country Club.

Mandie and Janson- Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your beautiful wedding day.  We wish you many years of health and happiness together!

Without further ado… Mandie & Jason Romesberg